Chipotle's definition of "Integrity"

Moira Birss

Wednesday's (2-6-08) review of Chipotle ("Food With
Integrity") lauded Chipotle restaurants for providing delicious, healthy and
good-for-the- environment food as part of the chain's "Food with Integrity"
commitment ­ a very admirable position for a chain restaurant to take.This commitment, however, leaves out an
essential ingredient:

justice.

Chipotle's definition of "Integrity" doesnąt seem to
include the notion of human rights ­ or at least not the right to a fair wage,
the right to overtime pay, the right to organize, or the right to basic
benefits like health insurance, sick leave, paid vacation or pension.

Tomato pickers in Florida, for example, earn about 45
cents for every 32-lb bucket of tomatoes they pick ­ a rate hasnąt changed in
nearly 30 years.On average, farmworkers
in this country earn $7,500 - $10,000 per year.Many farmworkers toil under conditions that amount to modern-day
slavery: there have been five federal criminal prosecutions by the Department
of Justice and the FBI for modern-day slavery in Florida fields in the past
seven years, involving over a thousand farmworkers.

While it is wonderful that Chipotle provides organic and
healthy food, and other restaurants should do the same, the definition of
integrity must also include the full respect of human rights for the
farmworkers who cultivate and harvest the food.